About me

I was apparently first put on a pony when I was four. It was my dad’s fault – he grew up with horses in the Midlands and he took me to his sisters small holding where she had new forest ponies.

From then on I visited her and her ponies every chance I got. I spent most of my school holidays at ‘the farm’. It was my heaven with dogs, cats, horses and sheep to play with. Soon after graduating from the lead rein I was sent to the local riding school where my equestrian education continued. I learnt a lot there and gained a lot of confidence.

My aunt bought a semi-retired 23 yo welsh section A for me to play with in the holidays. Toffee knew every trick in the book – he bolted, napped and bucked. His favourite game was to bolt then slide to halt next to the stinging nettles or the water trough and drop his shoulder – he taught me so much!

I continued to ride my aunt’s new forest ponies and accompanied her to county and national shows as a groom. Occasionally I got to ride at a local show.

In my teens I also worked for a friend of hers and later as a polo groom.

My parents put me off working with horses (there’s no money in it) and couldn’t afford to buy one of my own but I tried to keep my hand-in riding friends’ and going up to my aunts.

It wasn’t until I was 26 that I could to buy and keep a horse – it wasn’t something I undertook lightly, knowing the time and money that is involved. I researched my purchase carefully, did everything by the book (went to see over 20, took an experienced friend and had a five stage vetting) but unfortunately I bought a horse with lots of problems.

After four hard years including many vets bill, trips to Newmarket, help and training with his behavioural issues I came to the decision that we couldn’t continue. Sadly, on veterinary advice Harley was PTS in March 2014.

6 months later my aunt asked me to sit on Abbey so they could film her in walk, trot and canter with an eye to selling her/putting her on working livery at an equestrian college and I fell in love. I was initially concerned that I didn’t have the knowledge and skills to bring on a youngster but I’ve a great support network and in December 2014 my aunt dropped Abbey off for a 3 month trial/bringing on for sale.

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7 thoughts on “About me”

I just came upon your blog this evening, which I really liked the tone of, about your Connemara Abbey, having had a lot of UK viewings today. I got to the Horse and Hound website and there I saw that you had given kind mention to Niamh’s weblog. I was so pleased as nobody had given me any stars for mine recently!.
There is a ten year record of Connemara ponies in Ireland within my blog, which I am hoping someone will show an interest in taking on as I am gradually retiring from niamh’s weblog. Thank you again for the kind words, horseyculture. Good to hear from you. Niamh.

Thanks Niamh. I’m just starting my journey with the Connemara breed and loving (almost!) every moment. Your blog is incredible and such a mine of information- no doubt you’ll see me return to it time and time again. I occasionally go to shows and would happily draft a report for your blog.